Saugerties School Board issues press release on member backup information for voting

SAUGERTIES >> The Board of Education issued a press release this week to clarify its position regarding recent public scrutiny of how its members are provided information prior to voting on district matters.

The release, in the form of a letter by board President George Heidcamp, was adopted by a vote of 7-1 during a special meeting Monday night. Board Member Krista Barringer voted against the release, while fellow board Member Damion Ferraro was absent. Those board members who voted in favor of the release signed their name to the letter.

Following a separate special board meeting Tuesday, Barringer said she voted against the press release because she felt the public should have been notified beforehand that it would be discussed and voted on. She said it was not an emergency action and should have been publicized first.

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The matter of the press release was not on the agenda for Monday’s special meeting.

Heidcamp said in an email Tuesday that the letter was in response to an article in a local weekly newspaper.

“We felt we needed to let the public know how we do things,” Heidcamp said.

In the release, Heidcamp said the letter was to clarify the board’s position “regarding recent scrutiny and debate over some new board members’ claim that they don’t have enough backup material in order to cast votes.” He said agenda packets are hand-delivered to each board member’s home five to six days in advance of a meeting, which gives the members ample time to research or request additional information from the administration.

Heidcamp added that board members always are provided with adequate and proper information prior to meetings “in order to make informed decisions whether or not to approve superintendent recommendations.”

Additionally, Heidcamp said, new board members receive a six-hour orientation to help them understand policies and procedures.

At a previous meeting, Barringer abstained from a number of votes because she said she felt she did not have enough information to cast an informed vote. She also said she requested information about a number of proposed appointments so she was not voting merely on a person’s name.

“My role is to ask questions and to ensure that resources are being appropriately applied and policies being appropriately followed,” Barringer said following Tuesday’s meeting. She said her role as a board member is to trust but verify the information provided.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Barringer requested additional information about a mentor appointment and the granting of tenure to a teacher. Her questions about the mentor were answered, and the board went into an executive session to review the personnel file of the teacher seeking tenure. Both items ultimately were approved by the board.